I grew up in a small agriculturally based town in western Massachusetts. One most people probably have never heard of in their life and probably never will. Southwick, Massachusetts has a total population of about 10,000 which is less than the student population here at URI. it was a small town it definitely left its mark on me growing up and I am very grateful for all of the experiences I had there.
Southwick is known as a good town and good community to raise a family; the only thing it lacked was a good school system. The past few years it has been struggling with construction, updating the buildings, and curriculum with fear of losing accreditation. Without accreditation there would no longer be any tax money to support the district. The school system has one elementary, one middle and one high school that is regionalized between three towns. Everyone from the area went through these schools unless their parents shipped them out to private school or they were transferred because they were exceptionally good at sports. Southwick is also a town full of senior citizen housing and people who do not want to put their tax dollars towards a new school. They claim "It was fine when I went there" which was back in the 1970's. The education I received from Southwick's school district was not anything special, but it was enough to get me into many good colleges.
I spent kindergarten through the 4th grade at Woodland Elementary school. I made many friends there who I have remained friends with because we went through the rest of grade school and high school together. There were not many influential teachers that I can remember and I can barely remember their names. Despite this, one memory I remember clearly is the special Education program that I took part in. I personally did not need any kind of special education. An important part of my school was integrating the children who did with the rest of the students. Southwick is a town where there is very little exposure to diversity or really anyone different from ourselves, so Woodland made it a priority to change that.
The program I took part in was a few days week during my lunch period. I remember absolutely hating it at first. I did not want to spend the time away from my friends or from the cafeteria. I did not want to be singled out in front of the classroom to eat lunch with the "different kids" My first grade teacher, Mrs. Kline, referred to it as "friendship group"but we all knew thats not what it was about. Every day a different student who was volunteered by his or her parents would be pulled aside into the special education room. We would have to eat our lunch,and play some games and make conversation with the kids who spent their days there. In the first grade this idea was horrifying. Not by choice I went along with it anyway, and I am honestly glad I did. This program is probably one of the few things that The Southwick School district got right. From a very young age I learned how wrong and unfair it is to treat those with special needs differently. I learned how wrong it is to make fun of someone who is unlike you, who is different or who has disabilities. This is something most kids do not realize at a young age and many still do not know.
One thing that has stuck with me ever since the first grade is a friend named Kyle. I met him in these programs and he has definitely had an influence on my life. I could not tell you exactly what kind of special needs problems Kyle has but it is clear when you speak with him he is developmentally delayed. This delay is definitely made up for in other areas of his mind, like his memory. I went through the next 12 years of school with Kyle and I have never met someone more happy to see me. He amazingly always remembered my name, birthday and occasionally a conversation that we had back in the first grade lunch block. Even though back at the beginning I regretted giving up my lunch blocks and saw no point in those programs I definitely do now and I am very grateful for it.
Academic Autobiography- Early Years
I grew up in a small agriculturally based town in western Massachusetts. One most people probably have never heard of in their life and probably never will. Southwick, Massachusetts has a total population of about 10,000 which is less than the student population here at URI. it was a small town it definitely left its mark on me growing up and I am very grateful for all of the experiences I had there.
Southwick is known as a good town and good community to raise a family; the only thing it lacked was a good school system. The past few years it has been struggling with construction, updating the buildings, and curriculum with fear of losing accreditation. Without accreditation there would no longer be any tax money to support the district. The school system has one elementary, one middle and one high school that is regionalized between three towns. Everyone from the area went through these schools unless their parents shipped them out to private school or they were transferred because they were exceptionally good at sports. Southwick is also a town full of senior citizen housing and people who do not want to put their tax dollars towards a new school. They claim "It was fine when I went there" which was back in the 1970's. The education I received from Southwick's school district was not anything special, but it was enough to get me into many good colleges.
I spent kindergarten through the 4th grade at Woodland Elementary school. I made many friends there who I have remained friends with because we went through the rest of grade school and high school together. There were not many influential teachers that I can remember and I can barely remember their names. Despite this, one memory I remember clearly is the special Education program that I took part in. I personally did not need any kind of special education. An important part of my school was integrating the children who did with the rest of the students. Southwick is a town where there is very little exposure to diversity or really anyone different from ourselves, so Woodland made it a priority to change that.
The program I took part in was a few days week during my lunch period. I remember absolutely hating it at first. I did not want to spend the time away from my friends or from the cafeteria. I did not want to be singled out in front of the classroom to eat lunch with the "different kids" My first grade teacher, Mrs. Kline, referred to it as "friendship group"but we all knew thats not what it was about. Every day a different student who was volunteered by his or her parents would be pulled aside into the special education room. We would have to eat our lunch,and play some games and make conversation with the kids who spent their days there. In the first grade this idea was horrifying. Not by choice I went along with it anyway, and I am honestly glad I did. This program is probably one of the few things that The Southwick School district got right. From a very young age I learned how wrong and unfair it is to treat those with special needs differently. I learned how wrong it is to make fun of someone who is unlike you, who is different or who has disabilities. This is something most kids do not realize at a young age and many still do not know.
One thing that has stuck with me ever since the first grade is a friend named Kyle. I met him in these programs and he has definitely had an influence on my life. I could not tell you exactly what kind of special needs problems Kyle has but it is clear when you speak with him he is developmentally delayed. This delay is definitely made up for in other areas of his mind, like his memory. I went through the next 12 years of school with Kyle and I have never met someone more happy to see me. He amazingly always remembered my name, birthday and occasionally a conversation that we had back in the first grade lunch block. Even though back at the beginning I regretted giving up my lunch blocks and saw no point in those programs I definitely do now and I am very grateful for it.